STDR  LIPE  AND 
HIS  MARIIONETTES 

MINNA  THOMAS  ANTRIM 


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AUTHOR 


jester_Life_aridJils 
rriarTone'E^Ees 

807.75        Antrim,   M.    T. 

An89j  Jester  Life   and  .xls 

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JESTER  lAF'E  and 
HIS   MARIONETTES 

By      MINNA       THOMAS       ANTRIM 


PHILADELPHIA 


Gl«C. 


HENRY      ALTEMUS      COMPA 


Nv   fcSlOV 


Copyright,  1908,  by 

HOWARD  E.  ALTEMUS 

Published  May,  1908 


t3'^^ 


JESTER     LIFE     and 
HIS   MARIONETTES 


JESTER    LIFE    and 
HIS     MARIONETTES 


^he  Fool  and  talent 
"May  the  Good  Lord  de- 
liver me  from  the  follies  of  the 
Wise!'*  exclaimed  the  Fool, 
regarding  his  peaked  cap  and 
bells  with  a  look  of  detestation. 
**  If  schools  and  travel  verily 
educate,  and  if  learning 
bringeth  Wisdom,  then,  how 
Cometh  it,  that  I,  a  poor  old 
Fool,  who  hath  neither  book 


JESTER    LIFE     AND 
HIS    MARIONETTES 

wisdom,  nor  hath  seen  strange 
lands,  am  wiser  than  they  all  ? 
Yet  I  use  my  little  hard-got 
learning  for  profit,  and  often  set 
the  wisest  of  them  thinking." 

The  Jester  ceased  his  solilo- 
quy. A  woman  glided  into 
the  court-yard,  which  was  that 
of  King  Mammon,  to  whom 
the  Fool  was  Court  Jester. 

"Come,"  she  whispered,  **I 
have  sore  need  of  thy  help." 

Bowing  courteously,  the 
Fool  followed  her  a  little  aside. 

**Thou  art  no  Fool,"  said 
she,  **save  in  the  role  thou 
playest  before  the  Mammon- 
ites.  Thou  art  rather  a  Phil- 
osopher, to  whom  the  ways  of 

8 


JESTER    LIFE     AND 
HIS    MARIONETTES 

gods  and  men  are  less  difficult 
than  to  the  real  Fools,  who 
call  themselves  Wiseacres. 

"Tell  me,  an  thou  wilt, 
how  to  kill  the  never-absent 
Thing  that  hampers  me  at 
every  step." 

"  Its  name  ? ''  asked  the  Fool, 
anxiously. 

"Envy,"  the  woman  whis- 
pered. "  Its  horrible  breath 
sickens  me.  I  cannot  bear  it 
longer.  Thou  hast  wit;  also, 
thou  art  wise.      Help  me!" 

The  fool  leaned  his  chin 
thoughtfully  upon  his  lean 
hand,  for  a  long  while.  So 
long  mused  he,  that  the  woman 
tapped  his  shoulder  impatiently. 

9 


JESTER    LIFE     AND 
HIS    MARIONETTES 

"First  of  all,"  said  he, 
sharply,  **tell  me  thy  name/* 

'^Talent." 

**  Alack  then,  I  fear  I  cannot 
help  thee.  For  centuries,  be- 
tween thy  forebears  and  Envy, 
there  has  been  a  deathless  feud, 
which  to  this  day  burns  as 
hotly  as  in  the  beginning/' 

"But,''  said  the  woman,  "is 
there  to  be  no  end?" 

"None,  unless — " 

"Unless  what?" 

Hesitatingly  the  Fool 
opened,  then  closed,  his  lips. 

"Thou  shouldst  forswear  thy 
birthright,"  he  said,  "and — " 

"  And  what  ? "  panted  Talent 
feverishly. 

10 


JESTER    LIFE     AND 
HIS    MARIONETTES 

"  Assume  the  black  weeds  of 
Failure/'  he  gravely  answered. 

Despairingly  Talent  wrung 
her  hands. 

"  Even  then,*'  continued  the 
Fool,  **thou  canst  not  kill 
Envy.  Thou  canst  but  throw 
her  off  thy  track — for  so  long 
as  one  talent  survives,  Envy 
will  follow.'* 

For  a  second.  Talent  looked 
piteously  into  the  kind  face  of 
the  wise  old  Fool.  Then, 
murmuring  a  few  words  of 
thanks,  glided  away  as  noise- 
lessly as  she  had  come. 


11 


JESTER    LIFE     AND 
HIS    MARIONETTES 

The  T>ehtor 

The  Fool  lay  dying. 

"Whither    goest     thou?*' 
asked  a  fellow-Fool. 

"To  the  Devil/'  said  the 
Fool.  "Him  alone  have  1 
to   pay. 


So  died  an  honest  Fool 


12 


JESTER    LIFE     AND 
HIS    MARIONETTES 

Love's  Itinerary 

"Let  me  in,"  clamored 
Love,  knocking  at  the  door 
of  a  silly  girl's  heart. 

Open  flew  the  door. 

*' Welcome,  thrice  wel- 
come!** cried  the  maiden. 

Whereupon,   off  flew  Love. 

"Let  me  in,**  Love  cried, 
knocking  at  the  door  of  a 
selfish  woman's  heart. 

"  Prove  first  that  thou  art 
Love,**  she  answered. 

Love  pointed  to  his 
blind  eyes. 

Convinced,  she  drew  him 
in,  and  immediately  bolted 
the  door. 


15 


JESTER    LIFE     AND 
HIS    MARIONETTES 

Being  imprisoned,  Love 
remained  until  his  ally,  Oppor- 
tunity, arrived,  when  away 
he  sped. 

"Let  me  in,"  pleaded  Love, 
knocking  at  the  door  of  a 
clever  woman's  heart. 

She  laughed  and  sent  him 
away. 

Again  he  knocked.  Again 
she  refused  him  admittance. 

Many  times  he  strove  to 
enter,  before  she  opened  the 
door  to  him. 

**This  door  will  always 
be  open,"  she  said,  pleasantly. 

Hearing   this.   Love    stayed. 


16 


JESTER     LIFE     AND 
HIS    MARIONETTES 

ji  Costly  Game 

Two  mischievous  little  maid- 
ens, seeing  Eros  asleep  in  his 
Garden,  became  enamored  of 
the  fair  face  of  the  Trickster. 

''How  beautiful  he  is!'' 
whispered   one. 

"Yes,  and  how  soundly  he 
is  sleeping !  We  could  play  a 
joke  on  him,"  laughed  the 
other. 

''How?" 

"By  stealing  his  darts." 

"  What  fun  !  Let's  try !  "  said 
the  other. 

Whereupon  they  did  try, 
and  succeeded.  Love  was  not 
asleep,  however,  but  feigning. 


JESTER     LIFE     AND 
HIS    MARIONETTES 

Alack,  in  their  mad  haste  to 
get  the  better  of  the  sleeping 
god,  they  went  at  too  swift  a 
pace,  and — fell. 

Each  fair  breast  was  cruelly 
torn  by   a  dart. 

Meanwhile,  Eros,  hearing 
their  groans,  smiled.  He  arose 
and  walked  toward  where  they 
lay. 

'*Pity  me,"  moaned  the 
eldest  maiden,  "  take  out  this 
cruel  dart,  dear  Eros." 

*'Yes,"  wailed  the  other, 
"  we  did  not  know;  we  were 
only  playing  ;    pity  us,  Eros." 

But  Eros  made  no  motion 
to  remove  the  cause  of  their 
suffering.      Perhaps    he    could 

18 


I' 


JESTER    LIFE     AND 
HIS    MARIONETTES 

not,  for  he  is  blind.  Sad  to 
say,  he  did  not  try. 

"This  will  teach  you,"  he 
said  icily,  '*that  it  is  always 
dangerous  for  pretty  maidens 
to  play  with  Love's  weapons.'* 

And  deaf  to  their  piteous 
entreaties,  he  went  his  way. 


19 


JESTER     LIFE    AND 
HIS     MARIONETTES 

^eyond  Help 

"What  aileth  me?"  asked 
the  Woman  wearily. 

''  Thou  hast  nothing  left  to 
wish  for.  For  thy  complaint 
we  have  no  physic,"  answered 
the  Leech. 


20 


I 


JESTER     LIFE    AND 
HIS    MARIONETTES 

T^ity  and  Sympathy 

"Do  not  despair,"  implored 
Sympathy.  **Your  mission  on 
earth  is  a  holy  one." 

Pity's  eyes  filled  with  tears. 
"  You  are  good  to  try  to  com- 
fort me,  for  my  heart  is  always 
sad.  Wherever  I  go,  my 
coming  is  resented.  When  I 
would  aid  those  in  distress, 
my  enemy.  Pride,  runs  fast 
before  me,  and  so  maligns  my 
motives  that  although  I  am 
admitted,  neither  love  nor 
gratitude  do  I  find." 

Sympathy  was  silent;  too 
well  she  knew  that  Pity  spoke 
the  truth. 


21 


JESTER     LIFE    AND 
HIS     MARIONETTES 

Her  Toilet 

"Never  inquire  too  closely 
into  the  toilet  of  Beauty,'* 
sneered  the  Old  Cynic. 

"  Beauty's  toilet  is  made  at 
the  Well  of  Truth,"  retorted 
the  Young  Gallant. 


22 


JESTER     LIFE    AND 
HIS    MARIONETTES 

Wife -Seeking 

"Whither  go  est  thou?" 
asked  Experience,  curiously. 

**To  find  an  Interesting 
Woman,"  said  Egotism. 

"And  when  found  ?" 

"I  shall  wed  her." 

Experience  smiled,  as  she 
saw  the  Wife-Seeker  hurrying 
into  the  house  of  Simplicity. 

Out  he  came,  frowning. 

"  Shallow-pate !  talked  of 
nothing  save  bread  and  butter." 

Next  he  visited  Vanity,  who 
spoke  only  of  her  conquests. 

"A  female  Narcissus,  stark 
mad  at  her  own  charms,"  he 
commented,  as  he  walked 
away  in  disgust. 

23 


JESTER     LIFE     AND 
HIS    MARIONETTES 

Determined  to  find  a  Wife, 
he  visited  the  daughter  of 
Mammon.  A     short     time 

sufficed  to  convince  him  that 
money  alone  appealed  to  her. 

Finally,  he  thought  of  a  shy 
little  Woman  whom  he  had 
once  met.  He  went  swiftly  to 
her  neat  abode.  She  was  in. 
After  a  long  visit,  he  came 
out,  radiant,  and  ran  to  the 
place  where  dwelt  Experience. 

**Wish  me  luck;  I  have 
found  a  Wife  after  my  own 
heart,  a  treasure! " 

*'A  really  Interesting 
Woman?"  queried  Experience. 

"  Aye,  a  Woman  of  vast  dis- 


24 


JESTER     LIFE     AND 
HIS    MARIONETTES 

crimination,  who  says  little, 
but—" 

*'  Listens  splendidly  ?  "  drily 
suggested  Experience. 

"Aye/'  answered  Egotism, 
"and  who  understands  me." 

*'  Oh,  I  know  her  well,  and 
all  her  family,"  interrupted 
Experience.  **  Is  not  her  name 
Nonentity?" 

Egotism  nodded  delightedly. 
**We  shall  be  married  to- 
morrow." 


25 


JESTER    LIFE    AND 
HIS    MARIONETTES 

The  Liar 

"Whither,  Mr.  Liar,  goest 
thou  now?"  laughed  Experi- 
ence, for  the  Liar  was  a  win- 
some knave. 

"To  the  House  of  Duty," 
chuckled  the  Liar,  tongue  in 
cheek. 

"O  Duty,  how  many  abuses 
are  committed  in  thy  name!" 
exclaimed  Experience,  as  she 
watched  the  Liar  enter  the 
gaily  illuminated  House  of 
Folly. 


26 


JESTER    LIFE     AND 
HIS    MARIONETTES 

Jl  T^erfed  T>isguise 

Having  fully  recovered  from 
an  illness,  Satan  threw  from 
him,  contemptuously,  his  saintly 
habit. 

**What  rot!"  said  he.  "No 
longer  a  saint  Fll  be!" 

*' Did  your  majesty  call?" 
asked  an  imp,  a-tremble. 

**  Yes ;  I  am  going  out  with- 
in the  hour.  Get  me  my  best 
disguise.      Make   haste!" 

In  a  moment  the  imp  re- 
turned with  the  costume. 

**Very  good,"  chuckled 
Satan;  '*a  perfect  disguise!" 

A  moment  later  he  had 
donned  a  gentleman's  evening 
clothes. 

29 


JESTER    LIFE    AND 
HIS    MARIONETTES 


The  cM.asquerader 

"Whose  cloak  art  thou 
wearing?**  asked  Curiosity. 

'*Oh,  Love's,  as  usual," 
sneered  Desire. 


30 


JESTER     LIFE    AND 
HIS    MARIONETTES 

The  Woman  and 
The  Oracle 

A  woman,  pale  and  spirit- 
less,  knelt  before   the  Oracle. 

''  Give  me,  O  Oracle,  a  talis- 
man whereby  to  hold  my  lord." 

For  a  long  while  the  Wise 
One  spake  not,  then  : 

**  Men  are  not  wild  beasts 
who  answer  to  a  rein,"  he  said. 

**  My  beauty  is  gone," 
wailed  the  suppliant,  unabashed 
at  the  reproof;  "  my  charms 
are  faded." 

**  Replace  them,"  said  the 
Oracle. 

**  Alas,  I  know  not  how," 
the  woman  answered. 

Thereupon,  for  a  long  while, 

31 


JESTER    LIFE    AND 
HIS    MARIONETTES 

the  Oracle  counseled  the  un- 
happy wife,  who  ran  home 
joyously. 

That  night,  when  her  lord 
returned,  and,  as  usual,  related 
the  day's  doings,  happening  to 
look  up,  he  saw  a  beautiful 
radiance  in  his  wife's  eyes. 
Delightedly  he  recognized  it. 
It  was  Interest,  which  stimu- 
lated him. 

Then  he  began  to  speak  of 
amusing  things;  the  erstwhile 
down-drawn  lips  curved  with 
appreciative  humor,  which 
flattered  him. 

He  then  spoke,  admiringly, 
of  something^  she  wore.  Her 
blushes     assured    him     of    his 

32 


JESTER     LIFE     AND 
HIS    MARIONETTES 

sovereignty,  which  pleased 
him. 

And  when  he  proposed  a 
week's  itinerary,  and  she  did 
not  insist  upon  a  family  exodus, 
she  won  him. 

Thus  to  the  letter,  followed 
the  woman  the  advice  of  the 
Oracle,  and  she  was  happy. 


3— Jester  33 


JESTER    LIFE     AND. 
HIS    MARIONETTES 

The  Moth 
'*Is  she  pretty?"  asked  He. 
'At  night,'''  said  the  Cynic. 
"Is  she  wise?" 
*'/«    the   morning,'^     laughed 
the  Cynic. 


u 


34 


JESTER     LIFE    AND 
HIS    MARIONETTES 

Too  Much 

^^Ha!  Ha!  Ha!"  roared 
Credulity. 

'*  Thou  art  pleased  to  be 
rherry,"  Curiosity  said,  smiling 
in  sympathy. 

**  What  utter,  utter  asses 
these  mortals  be  !  " 

"  Wherefore  ?  " 

**  Herefore.  I  have  just 
promised  a  div^orced  man  and 
a  divorced  woman,  if  they  will 
but  marry  each  other,  a  future 
of  perfect  happiness." 

**  Well,  such  a  thing  might 
be." 

"  But,"  explained  Credulity, 
**each  has  been  twice  divorced 
from  the  other." 

35 


JESTER     LIFE    AND 
HIS     MARIONETTES 

broken   Vows 

**  Look  herein ! "  commanded 
Memory. 

The  Woman  gazed  atten- 
tively into  the  mirror,  and 
presently  across  its  surface  came 
all  the  vows  that  she  had 
broken,  and  each  was  marked 
with  blood. 

Whereupon,  she  fell  weep- 
ing, but  Memory  had  for  her 
neither  pity  nor  balm. 


36 


JESTER    LIFE     AND 
HIS    MARIONETTES 

Jffinity 

Affinity's  face  went  ashen. 

"Nay  good  Honesty/'  he 
sniveled,  "  neither  worldly 
goods  nor  silver  have  I,  there- 
fore I  cannot  wed!" 

**But  right  lustily  canst 
thou  rob  a  woman  of  her  peace 
of  mind,  and  spotless  fame!" 
thundered   Honesty. 

As  he  spoke,  it  came  to 
pass  that  Affinity  began  to 
suffer  with  pain,  such  as  had 
afflicted  him  ne'er  before. 
With  many  groans,  he  pleaded 
for  surcease. 

Finally,  Honesty,  being  fa- 
tigued, desisted. 

**  Go,   hound,  back    to    thy 

37 


JESTER     LIFE    AND 
HIS     MARIONETTES 

kennel,"  he  panted;  *' never  let 
me  catch  thee  defiling  the  ear 
of  Innocence  with  thy  Satan- 
taught  sophistries." 

Whereat  Affinity  limped 
away  muttering  strange  an- 
athemas. 

After  he  had  rested,  and 
when  all  his  bruises  were 
healed,  straightway  he  began 
to  plan  subtler  traps  for  the 
feet  of  brotherless  women. 


38 


JESTER    LIFE     AND 
HIS    MARIONETTES 

Eden 

With  Kingly  mien  he  strode 
along  the  path  that  led  to — her. 

Scattering  the  fig-leaves 
right  and  left,  she  ran  with 
eager  arms  outheld,  to  meet 
the  coming  Man. 

"Adam!" 

"My  Eve!" 

Clasping  her  tenderly  against 
his  heart,  she  answered  his 
caresses,  murmuring,  "You  do 
believe,  don't  you,  Dear  Heart, 
that  you  are  the  only  Man  I 
ever  loved?" 

And,  with  trustful  glance,  he 
told  her  he  believed. 


39 


JESTER     LIFE     AND 
HIS    MARIONETTES 

Dead 

**  I  am  without  sin,''  de- 
clared the  religious  Egoist. 

"Then  we  gaze  upon  the 
dead!''  exclaimed  Experience. 
**  No  sinless  man  could  breathe 
this  air,  and  live." 


40 


JESTER    LIFE     AND 
HIS    MARIONETTES 

The  Grafter 

Haughtily,  he  held  his  top- 
hatted  head  above  the  jostling 
crowd.  Swiftly,  and  as  the 
crow  flies,  he  bent  his  way 
toward  the   Castle    of   Plenty. 

Having  arrived,  he  thrust 
the  servants  masterfully  aside, 
and  strode  into  the  presence 
of  the  Good-Natured  Goddess 
of  Plenty,  who  greeted  him 
graciously. 

*'Thou  art  early  to-day,'* 
said   Plenty. 

**The  poor  may  not  loiter,'* 
said  the  Grafter. 

"Thou  art  looking  robust." 

"  Were  I  possessed  of  enough 
gold,  I  might  be  a  well  man." 

43 


JESTER     LIFE     AND 
HIS    MARIONETTES 

**Thy  raiment  honors  thy 
taste,"  continued  Plenty  af- 
fably. 

**  The  pattern  is  fairly  good, 
but  a  better  tailor  I  know  of, 
who  for  a  trifle  more  money — 
which  I  have  not  —  would 
clothe  me  properly." 

**  I  hear  thou  wilt  wed  a 
rich  wife,"  said  Plenty  pres- 
ently. 

**Aye,  when  I  can  raise 
money  for  wedding  favors,"  an- 
swered the  Grafter,  mournfully. 

Whereupon,  being  an  indul- 
gent Goddess,  Plenty  arose  and 
quickly  opened  one  of  her 
great    cornucopias. 

**  Here  is  money,"   she  said, 


JESTER    LIFE     AND 
HIS    MARIONETTES 

handing  it  to  her  guest.  **  It 
is  not  a  fortune,  but  it  will 
more  than  suffice  thee  for 
doctor,  tailor  and  wedding 
favors.  Take  it,  and  may  hap- 
piness attend  its  spending!" 

As  he  left  the  Castle,  the 
Grafter's  eyes  glittered  angrily. 
**  Miser !  Miser  !  "  he  hissed. 
"Twice  this  sum  she  might 
have  given  nie  and  never  felt 
it." 

Meanwhile,  kind-hearted 
Plenty  rejoiced  that  she  had 
given  the  Grafter  abundantly 
for  all   his  needs. 


45 


JESTER    LIFE     AND 
HIS    MARIONETTES 

T)esire 

"She  is  young  and  fair;  she 
must  be  mine.  What  is  thy 
price?"  demanded  Desire. 

"Her  Soul,"  said  Satan. 

"If  I  live,  it  is  thine," 
chuckled  Desire,  turning  away. 

Contemptuously  Satan 
looked  after  the  dotard.  Then, 
clapping  his  hands,  he  sum- 
moned his  body  servant.  Op- 
portunity. 

"That  Knave;  his  life  within 
the  hour !  We  need  some 
seasoned  fuel." 


46 


JESTER    LIFE     AND 
HIS    MARIONETTES 

The  Egoist 

"  Pardon,  Master,  I  see  no 
dust,"  he  humbly  said. 

Taking  the  trembHng  lackey 
by  the  ear,  the  Egoist  led  him 
to  the  window  in  full  sun 
glare;  pointed  sharply  to  a 
single  speck  of  dust  no  bigger 
than  a  pin's  head;  meanwhile 
he  stormed. 

'^What!  What  if  the  world 
had  seen  that,  had  seen  me, 
me,  go  into  the  street  thus 
begrimed  with  dirt!" 

Carefully  the  servant  re- 
moved the  tiny  speck,  after 
which  the  Egoist  left  the  room, 
dustless,  and  high-headed  as 
usual. 

47 


JESTER    LIFE     AND 
HIS    MARIONETTES 

A   Celebrity 

"What  is  a  Celebrity?'* 
asked  Ignorance. 

**  Usually  an  Ass  in  a  Lion's 
skin/'  answered  Experience, 
drily. 


48 


J 


JESTER     LIFE    AND 
HIS    MARIONETTES 

A  Runaway 

*'What  are  you  tugging  at?" 
asked  Faith,  anxiously. 

"  My  marital  rein,"  said 
Selfishness. 

**You  had  best  be  careful," 
Faith  whispered  to  Selfishness, 
whose  hands  were  purple  with 
trying  to  break  the  over- 
strained rein. 

Selfishness  answered  not  a 
word,  but  kept  on  tugging. 

Suddenly, snap  went  therein, 
and  simultaneously  away  ran 
the  badgered  husband  of  Sel- 
fishness. So  great  was  his 
relief,  that  he  never  stopped 
until  a  vast  ocean  lay  between 
him  and  his  erstwhile  keeper. 

4    JcsUr  49 


JESTER    LIFE     AND 
HIS    MARIONETTES 

Selfishness,  who  really  loved 
her  lord,  fell  ill  of  grief  and 
died. 

Whereupon,  after  a  decorous 
year,  the  runaway  returned 
and  married  a  little  wife  at 
whom  the  Cynics  laugh.  Her 
name  is   Faith. 


50 


JESTER     LIFE     AND 
HIS    MARIONETTES 

In  at  Last  ! 

The  wife  of  Midas  knocked 
at  the  door  of  Caste.  She 
was  not  admitted. 

She  tapped  at  the  door  of 
Letters.  Sneering,  they  sent 
her  away. 

She  tried  at  the  house  of 
Cleverness.    No  one  responded. 

She  knocked  at  Sorrow's 
door.       She    was    unwelcome. 

She  crossed  the  threshold  of 
God's  house.  She  was  stared 
out  of  countenance. 

Finally,  she  reached  the 
door  of  Heaven.  There,  her 
countless  good  works,  per- 
formed in  secret,  were  remem- 
bered, and  the  gates  swung  open. 

51 


JESTER    LIFE     AND 
HIS    MARIONETTES 

Bad  Luck 

**Fool!  Fool!  whom  cursest 
thou  now?"  frowned  Sobriety. 

**That  knavish  Luck/' 
yelled  the  Fool,  beginning 
anew. 


52 


JESTER     LIFE     AND 
HIS    MARIONETTES 

Love  and  Infatuation 

Love  is  composed  of  Admira- 
tion, Consideration,  and 
Moderation.  Infatuation  is 
made  up  of  Flame,  Folly  and 
Fickleness.  Love  is  deathless. 
Infatuation  short-lived.  Love 
sees  faults  as  well  as  charms  in  the 
beloved.  Infatuation  is  blind. 
Love  is  content  to  be  near  the 
dear  one  when  it  is  best.  Infatua- 
tion will  break  down  barriers, 
human  and  divine,  to  be  ever 
with  its  object.  Love  forgives 
much  because  it  is  sane.  In- 
fatuation forgives  nothing;  it 
has  no  sanity.  Love  will  sac- 
rifice self  in  order  to  make  the 
beloved     happy.        Infatuation 

53 


JESTER     LIFE    AND 
HIS     MARIONETTES 

will  sacrifice  nothing  if  self 
must  be  denied.  Love  grows 
steadily  and  has  no  times  of 
chill  and  moodiness.  Infatua- 
tion hates  even  while  it  fiercely 
desires.  Love's  liveries  are  of 
purest  white.  It  protects  its 
object.  Infatuation  masquer- 
ades as  Love,  but  ne'er  pro- 
tects. Love  respects  the  law. 
Infatuation  knows  no  law. 
Love  is  Heaven.  Infatua- 
tion is — Hell. 


54 


JESTER     LIFE     AND 
HIS    MARIONETTES 

Sweet   T^ivalry 

Flattery  offered  her  his  arm 
and  led  her  to  a  cooler  seat. 

*^Look,  just  look,  at  that 
ridiculous  Folly!"  she  ex- 
claimed. "  See  how  eagerly 
she  is  swallowing  the  prepos- 
terous nonsense  these  fools  are 
speaking! " 

"  How  different  from  your- 
self, of  whom  all  they  are 
saying,  might,  nay,  would  be, 
more  than  true,"  whispered 
Flattery. 

*'  How  sweet  it  is  to  be 
understood,"  murmured 
Vanity,  regarding  Flattery  with 
her  tenderest  smile. 


55 


JESTER     LIFE     AND 
HIS    MARIONETTES 

Kisses  Two 

"Ah/ 'cooed  Falsity,  ** never 
lived  truer  friend  to  thee  than  I/' 

''  Nor  I,  Dear  Heart,  to  thee/' 

Whereupon,  they  fondly 
kissed. 

Without,  a  Cock  crew — 
thrice. 


56 


JESTER    LIFE     AND 
HIS    MARIONETTES 

A  Dream  in  Metaphor 

Whirling,  whirling,  down- 
ward, through  densest  darkness 
into  purple  shadows,  then 
circling  with  incredible  swift- 
ness through  incredible  dis- 
tances, on,  on,  through  silver 
hazes,  to  flickering  golden 
light.  Then  a  voice,  close  to 
my  ear,  whispered:  *'We  are 
at  our  journey's  end.  You 
have  reached  that  land  for 
which  you  set  out.'* 

I  tried  to  see,  but  my  eyes 
were  strangely  dim. 

'' Tell  me,"  I  said,  '*  exactly 
what  it  is  like.     I  cannot  see." 

"Oh,"  said  the  Voice,  "it  is 
horrible  !  so  dull,  so  dead,  that 

59 


JESTER     LIFE    AND 
HIS     MARIONETTES 

even  the  very  flowers  here  are 
odorless." 

"  Who  rules  this  Land  ? " 

"A  stern  Goddess,  called 
Duty,  who  has  but  small  pity 
for  women  who  are  not  strong/' 

"What  Land  lies  beyond?'' 
I  asked. 

I  fancied  I  could  hear  his 
heart  beating.  Accompanying 
the  thrilling  voice,  came  the 
odor  of  sandal  wood,  blended 
with  strange  Oriental  scents, 
emanating  from  the  flowing 
mantle  he  wore.  Although  I 
saw  it  not,  I  touched  its  folds 
and  knew  he  was  of  the  East. 

"What  Land  lies  beyond?" 


60 


JESTER     LIFE     AND 
HIS    MARIONETTES 

he  echoed,  a  rapturous  little 
sigh  betraying  emotion. 

"  Beyond  this  barren  Land," 
(again  the  sigh)  **  lies  the 
Garden  of  Eros,  the  Kingdom 
of  Love,"  he  breathed,  softly. 

**Tell  me  of  that  Garden," 
I  said,  speaking  gently,  loath 
to  miss  one  syllable. 

Dropping  the  commonplace 
form  of  speech,  he  half  intoned 
his  rhapsody. 

Said  he,  **In  the  Garden  of 
Eros,  all  is  gay,  for  Love  is 
King,  Laughter  and  Joy  (his 
favorites)  fill  the  hours  with 
gladness.  Always  there  is  song 
and  dancing.  In  the  Garden, 
the  flowers  bloom  timorously. 

61 


JESTER    LIFE     AND 
HIS    MARIONETTES 

E'en  chaste  lilies  shake  their 
golden  bells  when  Eros 
passes  by." 

"Oh,  come,  come!"  he 
pleaded.  **  Thou  canst  not  re- 
main here !  Thou  art  so  young, 
so  fair  to  look  upon.  Come, 
let  us  not  delay!  Love,  I 
know,  will  welcome  thee." 

I  shook  my  head.  **Love 
has  hurt  me  sorely.  See!  "  I 
bared  my  wounded  heart.  The 
agony  of  the  unhealed  wound 
doubled  at  the  mention  of  that 
Name. 

**  Nay,  Love  is  blind;  he 
knows  not  where  his  arrows 
strike.  Come  with  me  to  the 
Garden  of  Eros,  where  I   will 

62 


JESTER    LIFE     AND 
HIS    MARIONETTES 


[~~: 


lull  thy  sharp  pain 'wTtK  juice 
of  poppies,  and  if  it  be  too 
deep,  I  will  gather  a  lotus 
flower  and  balm  thy  heart. 
Thou  art  weak.  See,  I  have 
brought  Life's  Golden  Chalice. 
It  is  filled  with  the  wine  of 
delight,  which,  drained,  brings 
joy  or  forgetfulness.     Drink!" 

I  pushed  the  cup  from  me. 
I  distrusted  still. 

''OFool!  Fool!  Dost  thou 
not  know  what  a  short  span 
lies  betwixt  Here  and  Here- 
after? Drink  quickly,  that 
thou  mayest  know  the  secrets 
of  Life,  and " 

Interrupting  the  music  of 
his  voice,  I  drank. 

63 


JESTER     LIFE     AND 
HIS    MARIONETTES 

"Tell  me  your  name,"  I 
said. 

"Persuasion/'  he  answered, 
"and  thine?'* 

"  Is  Regret/' 

"  Re-christen  thyself.  Drink 
to  Life,*'  he  whispered. 
"There!  Now  to  Love  and 
all  its  rhapsodies.'* 

I  drained  the  Chalice. 

"So,  let  the  future  be  en- 
wrapped in  sable  pall.  It  is 
not  for  us  to  know  what  Time 
shall  do.  Come,  let  us  hasten 
whither  Eros  is  King." 

Feeling  strangely  elated,  I 
arose,  and  together  we  walked 
hand  in  hand  toward  Love's 
Kingdom. 

64 


JESTER     LIFE     AND 
HIS    MARIONETTES 

**To  live  and  love,"  he 
murmured,  **  to  drain  Life's 
Golden  Chalice  to  the  dregs. 
What  else  is  there  to  dor" 

''  But  the  end?"    I  asked. 

**If  we  shall  have  lived, 
what  matters  then  the  end?" 

"  And  afterward—  ? ' ' 

"And  afterward —  we  shall 
sleep.  We  shall  lie  down  and 
rest  as  children  do,  content,  at 
peace,  alone." 

"Alone!"    I  shuddered. 

"  And  in  the  Summer  time," 
the  deep,  beautiful  voice  went 
on  comfortingly,  "  who  knows? 
Mayhap  Eros  himself  may 
come  and  stand  beside  thy 
flower-sown  bed,  and  say  ten- 

5— Jester  65 


JESTER     LIFE     AND 
HIS    MARIONETTES 

derly,  as  of  a  sleeping  child: 
*She  sleeps  the  faster  who  in 
life  hath  wept/  " 

As  he  ceased  speaking,  un- 
seen arms  seemed  to  lift  me 
gently  and  lay  me  upon  a  rest- 
ing place  of  wonderful  softness, 
about  which  floated  the  de- 
licious odor  of  freshly  gathered 
roses.  Again  I  floated  away, 
whirling,  whirling,  downward 
through  densest  darkness,  into 
purple  shadows,  then  circling 
with  i  n  c  r  ed  i  b  1  e  swiftness, 
through  incredible  distances, 
on,  on,  through  silver  hazes,  to 
flickering  golden  light  and — 
consciousness. 


66 


JESTER     LIFE    AND 
HIS    MARIONETTES 

A   Fascinating  Habit 

"  So  you  admire  this  Habit, 
little  one?"  gently  queried  the 
elder  woman. 

Flushing  slightly,  Inexperi- 
ence whispered  diffidently, 
**Oh,  so  much!  Might  I— 
would  you  tell  me  exactly  what 
it  is  called,  so  that  when  I  go 
out  into  the  World,  and  would 
wear  it,  I  may  make  no  error  ? " 

The  other  one  moved  a  little 
closer  to  the  questioner,  and 
said  softly — 

"  It  is  the  Habit  called 
Diplomacy,  dear  child." 


67 


JESTER     LIFE    AND 
HIS    MARIONETTES 

Her  Secret 

**  How  curious !  Look," 
said  the  Maiden,  **  at  that 
smartly-clad  woman  digging 
in  the  mire." 

The  Devil,  who  was  dis- 
guised as  a  gentleman,  half 
closed  his  snaky  eyes. 

^*  Methinks  the  Lady  has  a 
little  Indiscretion  to  hide." 


68 


JESTER     LIFE     AND 
HIS    MARIONETTES 

Her  Choice 

Said  Destiny,  to  a  beautiful 
woman,  *'This  day  being  the 
twentieth  anniversary  of  our 
first  meeting,  thou  mayest 
ask  of  me  one  thing — choose 
what  thou  wilt — and  I  will 
give  it  thee." 

**Must  I  decide  to-day  ? '' 

"  Thou  mayest  delay  a  year. 
One  year  hence,  at  this  very 
hour,   I   revoke   my  promise." 

For  months,  the  agitated 
woman  tried  to  decide  what 
thing  in  all  the  world  she  most 
earnestly  desired. 

Woman-like,  her  beauty  she 
thought  of  first;  but — would 
not    great    wealth    be    better? 

69 


JESTER     LIFE    AND 
HIS     MARIONETTES 

Almost  she  had  persuaded  her- 
self to  choose  wealth,  when 
she  met  a  fascinating  man. 

Love,  she  concluded,  would 
bring  her  happiness. 

**  Love  has  never  made  any 
woman  quite  happy,"  Experi- 
ence warned  her.  So,  she  cast 
Love  into  the  background, 
afraid  to  trust  him.  The  al- 
lurements of  Social  Power 
thrilled  her,  and  yet — up 
trooped  a  thousand  sweeter 
things,  as  rivals.  Through 
doubt,  she  grew  wan,  and 
sleepless. 

The  months  rolled  on,  until 
the  year  was  gone. 

The  hour  of  revocation  drew 

70 


JESTER     LIFE    AND 
HIS    MARIONETTES 

rapidly  near.  With  head  and 
heart  a-throb,  she  waited 
Destiny's  return. 

Prostrate,  at  the  very  hour 
she  lay,  her  wish  unchosen. 

*'  It  lacks  five  minutes  of  the 
hour,"  she  was  reminded. 
Wildly  she  watched  the 
moments  tick  away. 

**Give  me  a  contented 
mind!"  she  cried  distractedly. 

Scarcely  were  the  words 
uttered,  when  a  great  sense  of 
relief  came  over  her,  a  content- 
ment never  before  experienced. 

"A  peace  that  passeth  all 
understanding,"  she  thank- 
fully  assured  Destiny,  who, 
smiling,  turned  away. 

71 


JESTER     LIFE     AND 
HIS    MARIONETTES 

Logic's  T)edsion 

''Who  has  Hved  best?'' 
wondered  the  Thinker. 

''  He  who  has  made  the 
greatest  number  merry/'  an- 
swered Logic,  who  knew  that 
every  man's  soul  is  saved  by 
his  own  efforts. 


72 


JESTER    LIFE     AND 
HIS    MARIONETTES 

Woman  s  Friendship 

*'Thou  art  her  friend,  and 
mine.  Advise  me,"  pleaded 
the  Eligible. 

**Well,"  mused  Falsity,  *' as 
I  am  her  friend,  I  find  it  hard 
to  say  what  I  would." 

**What  rneanest  thou, 
woman  ?" 

"I  mean —  nothing." 

'*But  thou  hast  said—" 

*'  I  have  said  nothing," 
smiled  Falsity,  through  her 
curling  lashes. 

Off  stalked  the  Eligible, 
shaking  the  dust  vigorously 
from  his  feet. 

"  O,  Friendship,  how  vilely 
thou  art  misused!"  said  he. 

75 


JESTER    LIFE     AND 
HIS    MARIONETTES 

Pedigree 

"Who  begat  thee?''  asked 
Pedigree. 

"A  good  man,"  answered 
Honesty.  **  Would  that  thou, 
Friend  Pedigree,  hadst  been 
so  sired!" 


76 


JESTER     LIFE     AND 
HIS    MARIONETTES 

Three  Women  and  Bohemia 

Three  women  knocked 
timidly  at  the  Gate  of  Bohemia. 
Two  of  them  were  beautiful. 
One  was  named  Clever. 

The  Gatekeeper,  whose 
name  was  Censor,  quickly 
appeared. 

**  Thy  passports  !  "  he  said 
coldly. 

The  two  beauties  unveiled 
their  faces. 

"  Pass  in,"  said  Censor 
quickly. 

Clever  showed  him  the 
laurel  she  had  won. 

"  Enter,"  said  he,  more 
kindly.  Then  closed  he  the 
Gate. 

77 


JESTER    LIFE     AND 
HIS    MARIONETTES 

Time  whirled  for  a  year, 
and  both  Laughter  and  Tears 
reigned  in   Bohemia. 

The  same  three,  walking 
abreast,  wished  to  make  their 
exit  from  Bohemia. 

The  Gatekeeper  appeared 
as  before. 

Into  their  faces  he  looked 
searchingly,  for  no  one  leaves, 
even  as  no  one  enters,  that  do- 
main, unless  he  knows  whence 
came  they  or  whither  they 
would  go. 

"  Thy  face  I  know,"  he 
said  to  the  first  woman,  "  and 
yet  I  place  thee  not.  Thy 
name  ? " 

"  My    name     is     Impulse," 

78 


JESTER     LIFE     AND 
HIS    MARIONETTES 

said  she,  hanging  her  head  in 
very  shame. 

**And  thou  hast  come  to 
grief?''  he  murmured  pityingly. 

"Aye/'  moaned  Impulse,  *'  I 
have  come  to  bitter  grief.  " 
Silently  she  passed  out,  and 
walked  downward  towards  the 
Valley  of  Pain. 

The  next  came  forward. 
**  Thy  face  also  I  know,  yet 
name  thee,  I  cannot,"  he  said. 

The  white  face,  beautiful  no 
longer,  looked  wistfully  into  his. 

**  My  name  is  Vanity." 

*'  Poor  child  !  And  Flattery 
has  been  thy  ruin  r  " 

The  woman  shook  her  head 
dejectedly. 

79 


JESTER     LIFE     AND 
HIS    MARIONETTES 

*'  Did  no  one  warn  thee  of 
this  oily  Knave  ? "  asked  Censor. 

'*  Experience  did.  Not  once, 
but  many  times.  Also,  'Keep 
far  from  Bohemia,'  she  said ; 
''tis  not  safe  for  one  like  thee.' " 

Sadly,  she  too  passed  out, 
and,  like  the  first,  went  down 
toward    the    Valley    of    Pain. 

Then  turned  the  old  Gate- 
keeper to  the  last  of  the  three 
who  wished  to  leave. 

**Thee  well  I  know,  indeed" 
he  said.  **And  how,"  he  asked 
"  has  Bohemia  treated  thee  ?  " 

'*  Royally,"  cried  the  woman. 
**  Always  have  men  acted  to- 
ward me  as  real  men  should. 
Burdens  too  heavy  for  women's 

80 


JESTER    LIFE    AND 
HIS    MARIONETTES 

Strength,  have  they  helped  me 
bear  right  manfully." 

"Hast  thou  met  Laughter?" 

"Aye,  and  her  foster  sister, 
Tears;  and  both  I  liked  full 
well.  Tears,  though  sad,  oft 
comforted,  and  Laughter  made 
tedious  work  seem  play." 

"And  Flattery?" 

"  Upon  his  smirking  face  I 
shut  my  door,"  laughed 
Cleverness. 

" And  Bohemia's  famous 
god?" 

"None  of  his  vintages  has 
touched  my  lips.  I  have  kept 
brain-clear." 

"And  Love?"  whispered 
Censor. 

6— Jester  81 


JESTER     LIFE     AND 
HIS    MARIONETTES 

The  woman  blushed  right 
rosily. 

*'  For  Love's  dear  sake  I  get 
me  hence/'  she  said. 

As  she  spoke,  a  majestic 
form  emerged  from  a  sheltered 
place  near  the  Gate.  It  was 
the  Great  Teacher,  Experience. 

''Because  thou  hast  heeded 
my  warnings,  my  Daughter, 
both  Fame  and  Love  have 
come  to  thee,  even  as  I  said. 
Thou  art  well  called — *  Clever- 
nessr' 

Whereupon  the  Gatekeeper 
opened,  and,  with  eyes  alight, 
the  woman  regretfully  passed 
out. 


82 


JESTER     LIFE    AND 
HIS    MARIONETTES 

Intuition 

Shuddering  and  white- 
faced,  Intuition  made  her  way 
back  from  the  very  edge  of 
the  frightful  precipice  of 
Desire ;  then,  running  Hke  a 
white  hare,  soon  passed  through 
the  Gate  of  Safety. 

At  this  same  hour,  the  Devil, 
while  gnashing  his  teeth,  and 
furiously  lashing  his  tail  against 
the  swaying  floor  of  Hades, 
cursed  Intuition  with  Satanic 
eloquence. 


83 


JESTER     LIFE    AND 
HIS    MARIONETTES 

The  Family  Tree 
*' It's    too  bad!'*   exclaimed 
Mother    Earth.      *' You're  too 
old  to  be  so  disturbed.      Why 
don't  they  let  you  rest?'' 

**  Well,"  quavered  the  Fam- 
ily Tree,  "they  use  my  poor 
old  roots  as  a  step-ladder. 
Gadzooks !  my  branches  feel 
quite  dead." 

Sympathetically,  Mother 
Earth  laid  a  snowy  coverlet 
over   the  quivering    old    roots. 


84 


JESTER    LIFE     AND 
HIS    MARIONETTES 

Poor  Jove 

*'Juno,"  said  Jove,  ''I  am 
going  out  to  take  the  air;  I 
need  exercise." 

"Wait,''  said  his  queen,  with 
a  strangely  knowing  smile,  **  I 
also  need  the  air.  I  will  go 
with  you." 

"But,"  objected  Jove,  "we 
should  not  both  be  gone. 
What  if  some  of  our  children, 
or  other  immortals,  should 
come?  One  of  us  should  be 
here  to   receive  them." 

"Very  true,  dear,'*  said 
Juno;  "you  may  remain  at 
home." 

Which   Jove  did. 

This  explains  why  it  thun- 

85 


JESTER     LIFE    AND 
HIS     MARIONETTES 

dered  so  furiously  that  night, 
and  also  why  a  certain  favorite 
of  the  Thunderer  waited  in 
the  groves  of  Olympus  so  many 
hours  in  vain. 


86 


JESTER     LIFE    AND 
HIS    MARIONETTES 

Secrets 

Long  and  earnestly  two 
women  spake  together.  One 
was  very  young;  the  other, 
older  by  threescore  years.  One 
spoke  at.  length,  and  with 
authority.  The  other  listened, 
her  eyes  cast  down,  her  blush- 
ing cheek  averted.  She  was 
hearing  for  the  first  time  some 
of  the  wickedness  of  this  most 
wicked  world.  Her  pure  soul 
rose  in  revolt.  She  who  had 
spoken  of  Life's  wantonness, 
was  the  granddaughter  of  the 
woman  who  blushed. 


87 


JESTER    LIFE    AND 
HIS    MARIONETTES 

Punishment 

'*0  God,  save,  save  me  from 
this  Monstrous  Age!"  shrieked 
Vanity. 

But,  for  her  sins,  she  was 
fated  each  day  thenceforth,  to 
see  his  threatening  heralds. 

Finally,  bringing  his  brim- 
ming cup  of  aloes,  Age  arrived. 
And  the  pain  of  death  was, 
compared  with  the  pangs  she 
bore  at  this  time,  as  slumber, 
after  a  day  in  torture  spent. 


JESTER     LIFE    AND 
HIS    MARIONETTES 

Prospects 

"Rest  easy,"  whispered 
Prospects.  *'  There  is  no  need 
for  you  to  exert  yourself.  I 
will  be  your  friend  from  now 
on.  What  do  you  most 
desire?" 

''I  wish  a  beautiful  wife,  a 
fine  mansion,  a  box  at  the 
Opera,  everything  a  gentleman 
should  have,"  said  the  Youth, 
greedily. 

Prospects  secured  them  for 
him. 

"  Here  I  leave  you,"  he  said, 
upon  the  culmination  of  the 
Youth's  good  fortune.  And 
he  went  forthwith. 

A  year  afterwards,    another 

91 


JESTER    LIFE    AND 
HIS    MARIONETTES 

knocked  peremptorily  at  the 
Youth's  door. 

''Who  are  you?"  asked    he. 

"Adversity  is  my  name." 

"What  do  you  want?" 

"All  that  you  have,"  said 
Adversity,  sourly. 

Heedless  of  protest,  the  new- 
comer took  away  all,  save  his 
debtor's  wife. 

"Thee,  at  least,  I  have  still," 
said  Youth,  through  tears. 

"  I  am  going  back  to  my 
father,'*  she  said,  coldly.  "I 
was  deceived.  I  have  no  vo- 
cation for  Privation." 


92 


JESTER    LIFE     AND 
HIS    MARIONETTES 

ScandaVs  Pride 

**Tell  me,  what  hast  thou 
done  this  month?"  asked 
Gossip. 

*' Well,  I've  parted  scores  of 
friends,  damaged  a  few  thousand 
reputations,  and  dragged  several 
families  into  the  divorce  court,'' 
Scandal  made  answer.  "And 
thou?" 

''  Mortally  wounded  Faith," 
said  Gossip,  lifting  her  head 
proudly. 


93 


JESTER    LIFE     AND 
HIS    MARIONETTES 


Merely  T^umor 

Suddenly  there  arose  a  sound 
like  sportive  wind  in  the  tree- 
tops,  accompanied  by  woman's 
shrillings. 

Hastily  to  his  aerie  ran 
Curiosity.  Quickly  he  re- 
turned to  his  seat  'neath  a  fig 
tree.  "Nothing  but  the  flap- 
pings of  Rumor,  and  her  Scare- 
crow daughters,"  he  mused 
disgustedly. 


94 


JESTER    LIFE     AND 
HIS    MARIONETTES 

The  T)ead  Flower 

Slowly  Queen  Caprice  lifted 
the  snowy  curtain  of  her  sleep- 
bound  eyes.  Then,  serpent- 
like, uncoiled  her  lithe  body, 
and  rose  triumphant. 

The  face  of  her  little  hand- 
maiden went  white  with  dread. 
Whether  her  sweet  mistress 
would  have  her  crowned,  or 
beheaded  within  the  hour,  she 
knew  not.  One  never  could 
know. 

"  My  minions ;  call  them 
hither!"  commanded  Caprice 
sharply. 

**We  are  here,  O  Queen," 
panted  her  bond-servants. 

**  These  violets  ;    take  them 

95 


JESTER    LIFE    AND 
HIS    MARIONETTES 

away,  their  scent  is  odious! 
Who  brings  me  violets  more, 
shall  lose  his  head/' 

*'As  many  a  vassal  hath  by 
thy  command,"  thought  Ser- 
vice, the  little  maiden. 

"  Perchance  our  gracious 
Queen  will  choose  a  finer 
flower?"  said  the  Lord  High 
Gardener,  bowing  humbly. 

**That  forsooth  will  she,  a 
rare  one!  Go  thou,  and  all 
thy  helpers,  and  see  if  Knight- 
hood is  in  flower!  " 

Stepping  backward,  one  by 
one,  her  minions  faded  from 
view. 

An  hour  passed.  The  brow 
of    Queen    Caprice    began    to 

96 


JESTER    LIFE     AND 
HIS    MARIONETTES 

darken,  and  in  her  steel-blue 
eyes,  strange  lightnings  flashed. 

But  ere  the  storm  burst 
forth,  the  Lord  High  Gar- 
dener and  his  helpers  appeared. 

"Well?"  Clear-cut,  the 
imperious  voice  rang  out. 
"  Speak,  sirrah  !  " 

Then,  he  who  wore  the 
Gardener's  livery,  but  who  was 
in  sooth  another,  spake. 
Firmly  into  her  eyes  he  looked. 

"Thou  art  too  late,  O 
Queen.  Knighthood  was  in 
flower,  but  the  flower  is  with- 
ered, and — " 

"The  root?"  gasped  Caprice. 

"The  root  is  dead,"  gravely 
answered    the    supposed    Gar- 

J-JctcT  97 


JESTER    LIFE     AND 
HIS    MARIONETTES 

dener,    whose    dreaded     name 
was  Discipline. 

Hearing  which.  Queen  Ca- 
price, to  whom  to  wish,  and 
not  obtain,  was  agony,  mo- 
tioned her  attendants  away, 
even  exiUng  Kttle  Service; 
then  for  one  whole  hour, 
ceaselessly  she  wept,  and  wept, 
and  wept. 


x\ 


98 


JESTER    LIFE     AND 
HIS    MARIONETTES 

After  the  Fall 

Slowly  the  Serpent  uncoiled 
himself  and  gazed  after  the 
retreating  forms  of  Adam  and 
Eve. 

"Well!''  hissed  he.  "To 
think  a  little  taste  like  that 
could  upset  Creation !  What 
an  infernal  cad  that  Adam  is  !  " 

Whereupon,  having  spat 
forth  his  disgust,  he  recoiled 
himself  and  nestled  as  before, 
close  up  against  the  Tree  of 
Knowledge. 


^ 


99 


JESTER    LIFE     AND 
HIS    MARIONETTES 

The  %)isitor 

Life  being  very  ill,  saw  a 
stranger  upon  his  threshold. 

"Go!'*  he  commanded. 

"After  you/'  the  visitor 
replied. 

Thereupon,  gliding  to  the 
bed,  he  laid  his  hand  upon 
Life,  and  the  two  passed  out. 
Life  going  first. 


1 


JESTER    LIFE     AND 
HIS    MARIONETTES 

Her  T^assports 

"Do  you  think  you  will  be 
received  by  Society?''  sneered 
the  Cynic.  "Never!  Your 
grandfather  shaved  notes  !  " 

"  No  matter/'  said  she, 
serenely,  "  I  shall  arrive." 

"But  you  will  be  snubbed." 

"Never!  I'll  stake  my 
millions  that  I  shall  be  wel- 
comed," said  the  woman. 

"Tell  me,"  said  the  Cynic, 
convinced  by  her  manner, 
"your  winning  card." 

"  I  have  an  inexhaustible 
supply  of  new  amusements," 
she  gleefully  whispered. 

Hearing  this,  the  Cynic 
knew  that  she  was  very  clever. 

103 


JESTER     LIFE     AND 
HIS    MARIONETTES 


**  You  are  right/'  said  he, 
bowing  deferentially  over  her 
extended  hand;  "you  are 
bound  to  succeed/' 


104 


JESTER     LIFE    AND 
HIS    MARIONETTES 

HoJV   The^   Want  It 

"  Women  are  never  satis- 
fied, "  complained  the  Unwise 
Man. 

*'  Give  them  the  Earth  and 
they  cry  for  the  Moon;  give 
them  the  Moon  and  they  weep 
for  another  world.  Men  are 
so  different;  they  want  but 
little    here  below." 

**  But  want  that  little  — 
strong,"  answered  the  Wise 
Woman,  mockingly. 


105 


JESTER     LIFE    AND 
HIS     MARIONETTES 

The  SeeJ^er 

*' Where  does  Happiness 
hide?''  asked  the  Seeker 
angrily,  for  he  was  not  young 
and  had  traveled  far. 

"Behind  the  shoulders  of 
the  Sphinx/'   smiled  Wisdom. 


106 


JESTER     LIFE     AND 
HIS    MARIONETTES 

The  "Pace 

''  Go  thou  by  thyself,  Hurry/' 
said  Progress ;  "  I  cannot  run ; 
besides,  I  must  look  carefully, 
lest  I  lose  my  way," 

Whereupon,  glad  to  be  rid 
of  his  slow  companion.  Hurry 
rushed  for  the  goal  like  a 
whirlwind. 

Progress,  nothing  daunted, 
plodded  steadily  on. 

Hurry,  while  looking  back- 
ward at  limping  Progress, 
laughed  gleefully;  so  gleeful 
was  he,  that  he  fell  into  a 
ditch,  and  broke  both  his  legs, 
and  lay  howling. 

While  Progress,  looking 
only   whither    he    was    going, 

107 


m 


JESTER     LIFE    AND 
HIS    MARIONETTES 


arrived  at  the  goal  in  excellent 
time,  and  firmly  planted  his 
pennant. 


108 


JESTER     LIFE     AND 
HIS    MARIONETTES 

In  Haste 

"  Whither  away  so  swiftly  ? " 
asked  the  Novice. 

"To  close  the  Gate  of  Op- 
portunity/' called  back  Time. 


[   THE     END  ] 


109 


^^ 


/' 


B    000  013  285    2 


